Public Policy Network

Helping You and Your Organization Engage in Policy Debates

FHLBank Pittsburgh's Public Policy Network (PPN) is a coalition of housing, economic development and financial industry advocates. Membership is free and includes invitations to events with members of Congress, monthly policy updates and quarterly conference calls featuring industry experts.

Public Policy Updates

Stay up-to-date on issues facing housing, economic development and the FHLBanks with Allison Karakis' monthly policy updates.

November 2024

Republicans are celebrating the election results as the party retained control of the U.S. House and gained control of the U.S. Senate and the Presidency. However, the razor thin two-seat majority (with three seats undecided as of the drafting of this update) will be a challenge.

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October 2024

A recent study estimated that nearly $16 billion will be spent on federal elections this cycle. With 30 days until the election, candidates are making sure to use every last resource. That will come as no surprise for those in swing states enduring the endless ads and frequent campaign rallies. While the push to sway voters will continue through Election Day, campaigns are focusing much of their attention on assuring that identified supporters cast their vote. Get out the vote (GOTV) efforts are an essential element, especially in close elections where who turns out to vote often makes the difference.

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September 2024

Government funding runs on a fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30. Ideally, Congress would have passed all twelve appropriations bills long before the deadline, but “regular order” has become rare and large omnibus funding bills the norm. 

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August 2024

August recess is in full swing, and Congress is only scheduled to be in session for three more weeks until the November elections. During that limited time, government funding will be the primary focus and a continuing resolution is all but guaranteed to temporarily extend funding past Sept. 30.

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July 2024

By summer of a Presidential Election Year, Congress becomes consumed with positioning themselves for success in November. The Senate and House this year will be in recess all of August and October campaigning.

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February 2023

The first vote of the 118th Congress, for Speaker of the House, made it immediately clear that slim majorities are going to make things difficult. Small groups within and across parties will have outsized influence on nearly every vote—impacting important legislation—over the next two years. 

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December 2023

The midterm elections have produced results reminiscent of 2020 – narrow majorities and another runoff in Georgia. However, the dynamics have shifted as Republicans gained control of the House with a slim seven seat majority with two seats remaining to be called.

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Allison Karakis, Senior Director, Government Relations
Office: 412-288-7302
allison.karakis@fhlb-pgh.com

Allison Karakis joined the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) in 2015 and oversees FHLBank’s government relations program.
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Reginald Belon, Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 412-288-2879
reginald.belon@fhlb-pgh.com

Reginald Belon is a public affairs specialist at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank). Mr. Belon joined FHLBank in 2024 and executes the grassroots strategy through FHLBank’s Public Policy Network (PPN). 
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